Lemon Drop
Solanum lycopersicum 'Lemon Drop'
A prolific cherry tomato variety that produces bright yellow, teardrop-shaped fruits with an intensely sweet, citrusy flavor that's unlike any other tomato. These bite-sized gems are incredibly productive, with long clusters of 6-12 fruits that ripen throughout the season. A conversation starter that adds both visual appeal and gourmet flavor to any garden or plate.
Harvest
75-80d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Lemon Drop in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Lemon Drop · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The fruits are smooth, shiny, glossy, and are classified as berries. The size, shape, and color will vary depending on the variety or cultivar. The color of the fruits may be red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or pink. The fruits may contain over 100 yellow to light brown seeds.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, Variegated. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
Storage & Preservation
Store freshly harvested Lemon Drop tomatoes at room temperature for 3-5 days to maintain their bright flavor and firm texture. Refrigeration dulls the distinctive citrusy notes and creates a mealy texture, so only refrigerate fully ripe fruits you can't use immediately.
For preservation, Lemon Drop excels at dehydrating due to its lower moisture content. Slice in half and dehydrate at 135°F for 8-12 hours until leathery. The concentrated sweet-tart flavor makes exceptional additions to winter salads and pasta dishes.
Freeze whole fruits on baking sheets, then transfer to freezer bags for up to 8 months. The bright yellow color and intense flavor make them perfect for unique yellow tomato sauces and salsas. Their natural acidity makes them suitable for water bath canning following tested recipes, creating vibrant golden preserves that retain much of their fresh citrus character.
History & Origin
Lemon Drop originated from the breeding work of Tom Wagner, a renowned tomato breeder from Washington State, in the 1990s. Wagner developed this variety by crossing various yellow cherry tomatoes with wild species to achieve the distinctive teardrop shape and intense citrusy flavor that sets it apart from other yellow varieties.
Wagner's goal was creating a cherry tomato that truly tasted different—not just another red variety in yellow skin. He selected for the unique combination of sweetness balanced with bright acidity that gives Lemon Drop its citrus-like character. The variety gained popularity through seed exchanges and specialty catalogs in the early 2000s.
As an open-pollinated heirloom, Lemon Drop represents the modern era of heirloom development, where dedicated breeders create new varieties using traditional selection methods rather than genetic modification. It has become particularly popular among chefs and home gardeners seeking unique flavors and striking visual presentation in specialty dishes and farmers market displays.
Advantages
- +Attracts: Bees, Pollinators, Predatory Insects
- +Wildlife value: The plant is pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees.
- +Edible: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Leaves, Stems): Medium severity
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially improving tomato flavor
Marigolds
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds
Carrots
Loosens soil for tomato roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control tomato pests
Chives
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while repelling whiteflies
Lettuce
Provides living mulch and makes efficient use of space without competing
Borage
Repels hornworms and attracts pollinators and beneficial predatory insects
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Fennel
Inhibits growth through allelopathic compounds and attracts harmful insects
Brassicas
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt tomato growth when planted nearby
Corn
Both attract corn earworm/tomato fruitworm, increasing pest pressure for both crops
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #167747)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good general disease resistance, less prone to cracking than many cherries
Common Pests
Tomato hornworm, aphids, whiteflies
Diseases
Late blight, early blight, septoria leaf spot